UPDATE: Elden's minion quilt

UPDATE:  as I was looking at the picture in the original post, I decided to rework the top and bottom borders.  Like them better now.

Original post:

This was fun to put together.  Foundation pieced the corner blocks.  It definately needed something other than the straight rail fences.    Discovered I like foundation piecing.  Will have to try it again ... Maybe even paper piecing.  

Avery's birthday

A little girl across the pond is having a birthday.  She herself is a 'maker' so I am sending her a bag to store her tablet (hudl for those in the know) and her earphones all in one place.  Birds nest necklace is an extra.  Not sure what else I'll put in the bag.  I have a week or so to figure it out.

Birds nest necklace!

Always loved these little birds nests I've seen on Pinterest.  Since miss Avery has a birthday coming up I've decided to give it a shot.  Not too bad for a first shot.  Hope she likes it.

I used this tutorial on YouTube.  http://www.youtube.com/watch/?v=qUroGDn_zS0

Bionic gear bag!

Made my first BIONIC GEAR BAG (otherwise known as BGB) by ripstitchr!  Love the pattern, pretty easy.  Some finessing is needed because of thicknesses when applying the side bindings.  First one isn't perfect, but will be well used.  More coming down the chute!

Been puttering ...

In the sewing room, but not that much output.  Still working on Pay Sloans vacation time 2015 quilt along. 

Last week we had our English visitors (Beth, Avery and Oscar) here.  Very busy.  Made Avery a baking apron and we made a Dorothy costume for Halloween.  Made the dress so she could use it as an apron if she wants.

Applique, first attempt ...

I decided that I needed to make a fall wall hanging to replace the one that was hanging in the welcome room for years.  After looking at Pinterest ad nauseum I decided to try my hand at applique.  Just fabric play, never done it before, no pattern.  I like it despite all the 'learning curves' and complications encountered.  Think applique could become a 'thing'.  Maybe I need to invest in Pat Sloans book.

New bag for Mom!

It is finally gifted so I can share.

Birthday Gift for AMC!

I made this tote and pouch for my BFF for her birthday at the beginning of September!  The tote has a zipper pocket on one side and open slip pockets on the other.  Don't quite know how to take a pic of the inside of a bag! 

Found this great tutorial for installing a zippered pocket:  http://u-handbag.typepad.com/uhandblog/2007/02/zippered_inner_.html

ZIPPERS!!!!!!!!!!

Just received my zipperstop order through Amazon!  Got the 54 pic mix (9") for $9.05.  Also picked up three 22" just because.  I used Amazon points so it was a good deal all around!

Made a pouch!

Decided to start a zipper quest ... Inside pockets on totes, pouches and the like.   Today I made a pouch to go with my tote that I showed previously (http://cherylquiltnut.blogspot.com/2015/07/tote-for-me.html).

This is the pouch..

I used this tutorial .. http://www.jedicraftgirl.com/2013/06/my-favorite-zipper-pouch-tutorial.html.

Very easy to follow.

Little Joys Quilt Along ...

All blocks are pieced together and now have to be built.  This is a nice quick fun project.

Christmas in July (or in this case August)!

I decided to do the Fat Quarter Shop's "Little Joys Quilt Along" (http://fatquartershop.blogspot.com/p/little-joys-quilt-along.html).  Think I'm loving the process of following the quilt alongside!  It's all about the small steps.  Here's the first blocks I did.

The following picture is from the site showing the end result we are going for..

GARLIC 2015

Garlic is harvested.  Curing in the shed.  Still have to pick out which ones to save for planting.  Only came up with one dud this year.

Kindle Paperwhite Cover

KI don't know about everyone else, but I can't understand why covers for ereaders are so darn expensive.  To that end I decided to make myself one.  This is the second one I made, the first has been trashed ... Did not fit well at all, but again, I learned a lot through the process.  I'm gonna make another one at some point which I'm sure will be better.  

Simple Four-patch blocks

In life as well as quilting, there is always something to learn.  One of the things that has bugged me for years is how bulky seams get.  Somewhere along the way I found this tutorial (http://lavieenrosie.typepad.com/lavieenrosie/2012/04/seams-a-poppin.html).

Once I understood the process it was simple and quick so I ended up making a bunch using my 2 1/2" scrap squares.  

Now to join them in the same manner!  That's the next challenge which the tutorial also includes.

Tote for me

Made myself a tote like what I did for my mom with some fabric I had for a while that I didn't want to cut unless I had the 'perfect' project for.  Lol  Crosshatch quilted the body of the bag instead of using fusible fleece.  Worked out pretty well.  Used This tote pattern which was very easy to understand and work with.  http://thelongthread.com/?p=10690

Creative endeavors...whatever they may be!

New plan afoot here!  Going to try to keep the documentation of my creative endeavors and project ideas here in my blog and post from here.  This way I can maybe have some semblance of order.  Hope it works!

This is a Minecraft 'Steve' pillow made for my Grandson Elden in May 2015.

Update on Vacation Time 2015

So I'm caught up on the Vacation Time Sew Along (http://www.freequiltpatterns.info/2015-vacation-time-mystery-bom.htm).  Here's the pictures so far.  Loving this project but am trying to use this particular line of fabric I have without buying anymore.  Hopefully I will have enough.   Have a block for August to go which will be done once the block design is announced.  Then it is quilt building time.  That will be interesting and I definately will have enough fabric for that part!

Sweater shawl

This has been an ongoing project for a couple of years now.  Melissa gave me the yarn with pattern that I had admired and I started it but it ended up being put away.  Decided to finish it and it was blocked on Tuesday of this week!    I think this will be nice and warm, used lambs pride wool in heather grey.   The pattern is on purl soho site.

Disappearing Four Patch

This is done!  Loved it but am glad to be moving on to other projects.  Really trying hard to not create more ufo's and finish or dispatch the ones that exist.

Little Twister Wallhanging ...

Finally finished this gem.  Enjoyed every minute of it and even took a foray into some machine quilting.

This is a close shot of the quilting.  It was a lot of fun!

Lil twister

Got this nifty template to make a sort of tessellated pinwheel thing.  Made a wall hanging.

This is how it started.  5" squares to make the four-patch then bordered with 3" strips.

This is them individually cut up ...

Sewn together ...

Decided on a wall hanging.  Just have to build, quilt and bind.  Then decide where it will be hung.

Valentine runner ... A little late but done!

I intended to have this on the table for Valentine's Day but never got there.  It is done now and being enjoyed.

Fun trip to Sew Inspired Quilt Shop in Simsbury, CT

This was today's haul.   Shhhhhhhh....it's already put away and the fabric fast will recommence! 👼

Christmas gifts I ran across in the pics.

This was for AnnMarie Campinelli!  I think she likes it.

This was given to Cindy Chapin-Howell.

And this one Sara Garthwait.

Disappearing four patch

Finished building the top for this quilt at midnight last night.  So, did I finish it yesterday or today!  Doesn't matter does it?!  Now just have to build the layers and figure out how I want to quilt it.  Will be quilted on the Bernina, that I do know.

Baby Envelope

Love to knit also, although this became kind of monotonous.  Don't think I'll be making another one of these.  The pattern by the same name is from Ravelry.  This was gifted to Alexa and Eric Howell at the shower for their new baby expected to arrive in March 2015.

Quilt Along with Pat Sloan 2015 BOM

Really enjoying following along on this.  Here's January and February.

More valentine stuff

Valentine stuff.

This was a pretty productive week.  Small stuff, but satisfying.  Mug rugs at the beginning and a tote bag for mom.

 

First finish of 2015

First finish of 2015. This is actually a UFO that I gave my DH for Xmas unfinished. It is now in use. All home spuns. I have another quilt top of the same fabrics to be finished. Not sure when that will be done or who the recipient is going to be.

I'm not good at this blogging thing!

This blogging thing has me stymied.  I periodically visit this space with the intention of keeping a creative diary, then move on to do other things and don't come back.  Well, I'll figure it out, but until then the following will be 'catchup posts'.  

Pic of my sweet Jet to start things off!  This was taken in 2009 so she was 6 years then.  She is going to be 12 this year.  Second pic is of her now.  She has slowed down, but still healthy, loves her cookies and her daddy.  Lol